Haley could feel something was wrong. She was asleep, that much she knew. But she wasn’t in her bed. She wasn’t in her room. She wasn’t in her body.

Something kept her locked in her body. It wouldn’t let her feel fear. Even though she knew she should be terrified. It wasn’t a nightmare, she’d had those before, plenty to know the difference. She was was trapped.

The System…

Images, memories flooded in, she remembered why she felt this way. She hated this feeling, the suppression of emotions, of fear, directed at the System. She dared not say it out loud, out of fear. Something told her no good would come of voicing her feelings for the System.

The System had taken her dad. It had trapped her Mom the same way it trapped her, she could tell by the look on her Mom’s face when it happened. It was like a heavy wet blanket had been thrown on their minds. The world became dull, and muted.

Move. Move your finger.

It had been over a two weeks now, and she still couldn’t get used to it. Mark seemed fine, he always seemed fine though. He had a way of rolling with things that she was jealous of, that just wasn’t her. If she didn’t like something, she had to fight against it. She had been called rebellious at school. Her parents had called her headstrong, she just did what she thought was right.

And right now, the world was wrong.

Just a little. Just move.

Her Mom had said it was temporary, Haley knew it was. But everything was wrong. She didn’t know how long she could last before she would crack. Haley had kept all of this inside, and could tell it was building up.

Miri, her stupid cheery voice, and empty smokey face pissed Hale off, had said they could go anywhere. Just not where her dad was. But that was all she wanted to do, go to her Dad. She had to find him, if the notifications we anything to go off, he was in danger.

Wiggle. Please just wiggle.

They had all cried so much the last few weeks, she was sick of it. She didn’t have any more tears. Anger was slowly replacing her grief, if only the System would allow her to feel something, more. She would welcome it, embrace it even. She remembered her teacher mentioning a doldrums when she was learning about old-timey sailors crossing the ocean. That is how she felt, stuck at sea, no wind to move her forward.

She had made progress with magic from the books here mother had gathered. She had even come up with a plan to help her Dad. Yet felt no more closer to getting to her Dad than when she first realized she wasn’t home when she first woke up.

She was so desperate to find him, he’d know what was going on, he had to. Then it had all come crashing down when her Mom had told her everything. The System had come, and broke her family up. It had taken her Dad, made her and her Mom keep quiet about how they felt. Kept her from feeling. Kept her feeling alone.

MOOOVE!

Finally her finger moved, breaking the spell of sleep keeping her trapped in her own body.

“Mom! Mom where are you?” Haley said as she sat up.

She could hear her Mom walking down the hall to her new room. It was bare, all her stuff was gone. She hated it, she missed HER room. Her bed. Her home.

Opening the door, Rebecca came in. Using Soul Connection, she spoke to Haley. It had leveled up, over the last few days, enough to send messages. But neither Haley, nor Mark had figured out how to reply, yet.

“Mom…”

[Haley, are you Okay!?]

“Haley, dear what can I do for you?”

They had learned to use body language to say one thing. Words to use another, but only when the Guides weren’t around. They weren’t certain they weren’t always around. They would appear at a moments notice, even before you finished calling for them.

Shacking her head ‘no’ Haley answered, “I was wondering what we were having for breakfast?”

Rebecca moved to sit on the bed next to Haley. Wrapping an arm around her daughter, she leaned in.

[Another bad dream?]

“What would you like my love? We have some fruit, and something Miri calls Falsokin, it is a bread like dish, with Mortuv Honey. It’s actually pretty good. It’s like a balled a pancake.”

Shacking her head again, ‘yes’,

“That would be great, I woke up starving.”

It had gone on like this for over a week now. It was wearing on Haley. She had resolved today was the day. System be damned.

“Mom, I’m gonna do it today. I don’t care if I can’t see the System Windows or not.”

[Be careful. I can only keep Miri busy for a short time. Go to the training field, and practice your light magic.]

“I am sure you are honey, you should head to training field today. There are plenty of targets there for you to get your light beam or whatever you are working on.”

Rebecca had only grown to further to distrust Miri, there were several ff comments that hinted at the notifications they had gotten from whatever Ethan was up to, things no one but they should have known. But the one thing Miri hadn’t asked about was the [Soul Connection] skill. They weren’t sure if the guides could snoop on the connection. Even if there was a way for them to test it, they didn’t dare. That was as daring as they had gotten. Her Mom knew what she wanted to do today, and would keep her connection open, waiting for it.

---

Haley stood at the edge of the training field. She had left the apartment after breakfast, leaving her Mom questioning Miri. Mark, as always had his nose buried in books. She hated how good he already seemed to be. Making constructs float above his hand, as the other turned pages.

She had no idea what kept him so focused, he should be helping to get to Dad.

She looked around, everyone there was having fun firing off spells and fighting with wooden swords. There was a whole group of kids trying to levitate each other. She had to admit it looked fun. But she had a goal. Today was the day.

“We’re coming Dad. Just wait.” Haley said, low enough to make sure no one heard her.

Making her way over to a far corner of a small wall that encircled the training field. She had chosen this side the of the training field since it was reserved for nature ability based training, none of the other kids seemed to care about that, so it had made for a perfect getaway. Somewhere to practice in secret, or as secret as you could get. Even now she knew she was being watched. She just knew it, she could feel it.

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She sat down in the corner, crossed her legs and closed her eyes. She didn’t know if it mattered or not, but she wanted no distractions. She had seen her Dad do it a thousand times, her Mom had made him meditate every day for a year. She figured if she was going to try and find her Dad with the one Skill they all had, she had to do everything she could to remember everything about him.

In. Out. In. Out. Just like Mom used to tell Dad. In. Out. In. Out.

Haley knew where her Mom was, she directed her thoughts towards her. She pushed every with every ounce of her being. She could feel her mother reaching out. It felt warm, and inviting. But she couldn’t connect to it. She felt her mind struggling to connect. It felt wrong.

No matter how hard she reached out with her mind, her Mom’s connection couldn’t get a hold. It was wrong. It was all wrong. Everything was wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.

Why, why can’t I level up [Soul Connection]? I keep trying to reach out with my mind…

It should have worked, from what her Mom had told her the Skill relied on a connection. A karmic bond. She had no idea what that meant. Recalling what her Mom had said the first time she read the skill to them, when they thought no one could hear.

She had whispered into her ear.

“Your innate Karmic Bond with Dad has allowed for the discovery of the skill [Soul Connection]. As your bond grows so does the information shared…”

Why can’t I form the bond? I just want to see my Dad. I miss my Daddy.

Tears began to flow. She didn’t dare wipe them away, and undo her concentration.

I have to level this Skill, I have to learn Soul- Where... is my Soul?

It had dawned on her that she had assumed the Skill was a mental skill because she had heard her Mom in her head. She had spent so much time in her head lately. She had tried so hard to feel something stronger than the fog. As if summoned, she felt the System push down on her mind, as she asked herself where he soul resided. There was something there, she knew it now. The only time the System pushed down on her was when it didn’t want her to do something.

Was the System keeping my thoughts and emotions down? Did it want me to not do something? Like it didn’t want me to hate it.

There was a thread there, she knew it. She just had to figure out what it was, she tried to recall what it was she was thinking before the System intervened. She was on the verge of something.

I need to learn the Skill. [Soul Connection]. There is it again.

Before she even finished the thought Haley felt the System descend. She took a second and just meditated in silence. She could feel the System leave.

I need to learn the Skill?

Nothing. She continued to meditate, letting peace wash over her. Haley felt the wind, it was always blowing slowly. It never changed, never stopped. It was all so fake. No one else seemed to notice. Haley had gotten used to it, but now she was focused on everything, and opened herself to the world around her.

[Soul Connection].

The System dropped in on her, but she felt it before it reach her. It didn’t want her to learn the Skill, the System was actively working against her. Was this why her Mom kept telling her to be careful? Did the System not want her to find her Dad? The System left her with her thoughts.

Can the System read our thoughts? It doesn’t want me to think about that Skill.

Haley opened herself to the world again. She felt her Mom, her connection was warm and inviting. She felt the wind, she felt the heat from the Sun. She felt the rough stone against her back. She felt her clothes, the soft material against her skin.

And she felt Mark, there, just waiting.

Damn it Mark, did you already level up So-. The Skill?

As open as she felt, she still didn’t fell herself connect to her family. Haley reached out once more, tuning out her thoughts, her worry. She even forgot about how much she hated the System. She let herself be guided. If Mark could do it, she knew she could do it, she just hated the fact that she had been the last to do it, and that no one had said anything about Mark figuring it out.

Open up. Connect. I can do it. I just have to open up my Soul-

As if a floor gate had been released she felt it. The wave of emotions wash over her. He mother’s love and pride for her. He brother’s love, mixed with confusion on how to express it, and process it. It was a lot to take in at once. But she knew she’d done it.

[Mom? Mark?]

[Oh baby, I m so proud of you. I knew you could do it.] Rebecca instantly replied.

Heather could feel her mother’s worry. Rebecca was talking to Miri, Haley could feel her Mom worry if Miri knew. The feeling died down moments later.

[Sorry honey, I was just confirming something with Miri. It turns out the System can’t read our thoughts, just our intentions. I kept Miri busy with questions about mental magic. I don’t think they can read these… messages? I don’t know what to call them. Oh god it is so good to finally be able to talk to you again.]

Haley listened as her mom filled her in on what she had learned. It turned out the System read the intentions because they were more accurate when anticipating what someone wanted or wanted to do. As for [Soul Connection] it wasn’t in any of the books they had read. That is because it was the one type of magic the System couldn’t interact with. It was something that was tied to Karmic Magic, but wasn’t Karmic magic in and of itself.

[So we can say whatever we want, and we won’t get… I don't know, pushed down?] Haley asked. Not sure how to describe it.

[Suppressed. I was able to beat around the bush on that topic and get some answers. But I m pretty sure they know what I was asking. It turns out that fear and anger are suppressed to make sure children aren’t negatively effected by the integration. So that confirms the System can control our feelings to a certain degree.]

[Yeah, I felt it suppress me when I was trying to level Soul Connection. Mom, I think the System uses that suppression to stop us from learning things. I don’t like any of this, everything is wrong. I miss Dad.]

[I know sweetie, I miss him too. Your brother and I have been talking about it, and as far as we can tell, your Dad is still alive. Mostly because of the Stat bonus I received a few days ago. I have also been getting weird feelings, I think its the Skill and the weird Title.]

[Yeah, not cool you guys didn’t tell me Mark could talk to you as well. Oh, and hi Mark.]

[Hi.] Mark said, and then went silent again.

It was one word, full of happiness. Haley knew he was glad she had succeeded. She even caught a glimpse of something, like he felt broken for not being able to do something. Haley was confused and moved on.

[Anyways, what is that weird feeling?]

[I think your Dad is having a harder time than we thought…] Rebecca trailed off.

Instantly Haley got worried. Was her Dad hurt? Was he going to die?

[Mom, what’s wrong? Is Dad going to ok? Is he going to…] Haley thought it, but couldn’t bring herself to say it.

[Baby, I don’t know.]

It was Mark that spoke up this time, over their connection. Haley remained seated, to the rest of the world she was meditating. Inside she was torrent of emotion.

[He is worried, and beating himself up about something. It also seems like he is really pissed. Like, remember that time you smashed his truck windshield with your hockey puck? Worse than that. But at himself.]

[Wait. You can feel Dad’s emotions already?]

[No. I can feel them through Mom. Mom opened her Soul to us the day after we got here. When you visit, it is like a hub, you get all the incoming emotions. You’ve been a wreck lately, I am glad you finally opened up your Soul, you are a lot to take in.]

Haley latched onto one word. The rest was ignored and made plans to make Mark pay for that last part later.

[Visit? Mom’s Soul?]

[It’s complicated] Rebecca said, [Now that you are able to talk to us, I can show you. When you get back.]

[I am on my way] Haley said, as she was already getting up.

[Wait! You should at least train a bit with your light magic, remember you went there today to learn ‘something’]

[Shit, you’re right. One sec.]

[Language.]

[Sorry mom. But seriously I’ll be there in a minute.]

Haley had been practicing in her room every night before bed. She didn’t need any practice. She summoned her light. It was much smaller now, tighter, more dense. At first it was just a big ball around her, lighting up the entire training area like second Sun. Now she could pull it in, and make it almost solid. That was the next thing she wanted to try. She felt it was possible.

She poured her Mana into the light, it felt cool to her touch. At first all she could was radiate it out, then she learned to focus it. She had worried at first that it was too much like a laser and it would burn her. But night after night of train had proven her wrong. It was comforting, and almost cold when fully condensed.

She felt the pressure build as she channeled Mana into her palms that caged the small ball of light. Right before she felt it would explode she released it, focusing on a straight line between her hand and the target. The target dummy didn’t stand a chance. It exploded into a million charred pieces. Some even caught fire. It caught the attention of some of the other kids in the training area, but Haley was already on her way back to there holding cell. She refused to call it her home, not until her Dad was back with them, again.